Communications and Engagement Programme Lead (Digital)

Job Summary

This is a senior role within our Communications and Engagement Team – we are looking for someone experienced and values-driven, who brings compassionate leadership.

The EPR system will impact 17,000 staff across the Devon system. This role will work closely with the Communications & Engagement Manager for EPR and liaise with other programme leads to ensure staff and patient communications are clear and consistent.

In This Role, You Will Be Responsible For:

• Coordinating communications across UHP ensuring consistent messaging and alignment of activities throughout One Devon
• Helping to execute the communications and engagement strategy for EPR, tailoring messaging for both internal and external audiences to ensure the successful adoption of the EPR system, and for other UHP digital systems
• Building and nurturing relationships with stakeholders, staff, and partner organisations
• Maintaining the development of Trust digital communications offering such as the Trust website and intranet
• Line Management of a small team

This role offers a unique opportunity to play a part in leading communications for a major digital transformation project, and continue to push for ways in leading the Trust\’s digital communications offering.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as \’Priority\’ and \’At Risk\’ status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

As Communications and Engagement Programme Lead for Digital, you will work as part of the Trust\’s Communications and Engagement Team to provide a professional communications service to the EPR Programme.

As a programme-focussed role you will be well embedded within the EPR and corporate communications teams, ensuring alignment between programme and trust activity.

You will have significant expertise in using communications and engagement to support major change management programmes. You will act as a trusted advisor to colleagues, including senior leadership and the Board and make recommendations on listening to and communicating complex, sensitive and often contentious information with a wide range of stakeholders.

As a skilled and qualified communications professional, you will be committed to best practice in communications and undertake CPD in the field.

You will have highly specialist knowledge and be skilled in all areas of communications practice, including developing relationships with stakeholders, the use and development of online channels, social media and media management, storytelling using words, visuals and video, crisis and event management. You will be a specialist in one or more of those areas.

You will be an experienced manager of people and committed to continuing to develop your skills in this area through the Trust\’s Manager\’s Passport.

About Us

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Date posted

07 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Per Annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-CB-A7098398

Job locations

Brittany House

Plymouth

PL6 5YE

Job Description

Job responsibilities

As the Communications & Engagement Programme Lead for Digital at UHP, you will be responsible for:

• Be the UHP lead for the Communications and Engagement EPR Programme. This includes planning and overseeing the delivery and evaluation of communication and engagement plans to support the Programme vision and objectives, aligning with the Trust priorities and outlining action plans for implementation. You will be skilled in identifying and developing two-way communication channels and able to deliver successful campaigns and projects, as evaluated using frameworks such as AMEC and the Government Communications Services OASIS. You will interpret national guidance, policy and best practice and adapt this for the programme.
• Coordinating communications across UHP ensuring consistent messaging and alignment of activities throughout the One Devon EPR Programme.
• Helping to execute the communications and engagement strategy for EPR, tailoring messaging for both internal and external audiences to ensure the successful adoption of the EPR system, and for other UHP digital systems.
• Creating impactful communication assets and working closely with teams to produce content that resonates with all stakeholders.
• Building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, staff, and partner organisations to foster collaboration and engagement.
• Maintaining and leading the development of the Trust\’s digital communications offering, such as the Trust website, the intranet, digital screens.
• Line Management of a small team of digital specialists.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject, giving rise to critical thinking capability in this area or equivalent demonstrable experience to demonstrate required proven knowledge and capability
• Masters level qualification in Communications or a related field (such as marketing) or post graduate diploma plus relevant demonstrable experience or highly specialist proven knowledge in PR/Communications equivalent to Master\’s Level.
• Membership of CIPR, CIM or PRCA

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Significant demonstrable experience in PR/Communications, including in the public sector, giving rise to a thorough and highly developed specialist knowledge of communications, public relations and marketing techniques, theory and practice
• Significant demonstrable experience of planning, implementing and evaluating successful communications campaigns and projects
• Significant demonstrable experience of using communications and engagement to support major change management programmes
• Significant demonstrable experience of identifying and developing communication channels, including online
• A track record in media and social management and can demonstrate innovative use of social media, including analytics across campaigns
• Significant demonstrable experience of managing high-profile and sensitive issues effectively
• Demonstrable experience of managing people

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Brittany House

Plymouth

PL6 5YE

Employer\’s website

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